Marine Methanol Fuel Supply System

Abstract

Provided is a methanol fuel supply system capable of reducing costs by reducing transfer pumps, expanding the deployable range by saving space in the equipment installation location, and reducing the maintenance burden on crew members and the risk of leakage of harmful substances. 【Solution means】A methanol fuel supply system 100 for a ship having a bunker tank 10 for storing methanol, a service tank 20 connected to the bunker tank 10, and a supply device 30 connected to the service tank 20, wherein methanol is transferred from the bunker tank 10 to the service tank 20 by a transfer pump 70. The bunker tank 10 is arranged above the supply device 30, and the bunker tank 10 and the supply device 30 are connected. It can be applied to a dual-fuel ship using methanol and a fuel other than methanol, or a methanol fuel ship using only methanol as fuel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a methanol fuel supply system for ships.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, heavy oil has been mainly used as fuel for ships, but regulations on emissions such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and carbon dioxide contained in exhaust gas have been strengthened by international treaties and the like.

[0003] On the other hand, ships using methanol as fuel have been proposed as an environmentally friendly clean fuel.

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes inventions related to ships in which methanol taken out from a methanol storage tank is used as fuel for a diesel engine, or ships in which power is generated by a fuel cell using hydrogen gas obtained by reforming methanol and is an electric propulsion type.

[0005] Patent Document 2 describes an invention related to a ship in which a methanol fuel tank 12 is arranged on the upper deck and supplied to an internal combustion engine 11.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] As a conventional system for supplying methanol as fuel to a main engine, for example, there is a methanol fuel supply system 200 for a ship as shown in FIG. 2. The methanol fuel supply system 200 is composed of a bunker tank 10, a service tank 20, a supply device 30, a valve train 40, a main engine 50, a return chamber 60, and transfer pumps 80 and 90.

[0008] The methanol stored in the bunker tank 10 is transferred to the service tank 20 by the transfer pumps 80 and 90. The service tank 20 is installed for the purpose of reusing the methanol that returns from the main engine 50 to the return chamber 60, and sending the methanol to the supply device 30 by gravity.

[0009] The methanol transferred to the service tank 20 is supplied to the main engine 50 via the supply device 30 and the valve train 40.

[0010] Here, the transfer pumps for transferring the methanol stored in the bunker tank 10 to the service tank 20 are configured with two transfer pumps 80 and 90 (a plurality of pumps). This ensures the safe operation of the ship by enhancing redundancy in case of a transfer pump failure.

[0011] However, if a plurality of transfer pumps are configured, the cost and the equipment installation space will increase. In addition, the number of devices handling methanol, a harmful substance to the human body, will increase, resulting in an increase in the maintenance burden on the crew and the risk of leakage of harmful substances.

[0012] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides a methanol fuel supply system capable of cost reduction by reducing transfer pumps, expanding the deployable range by saving space for equipment installation, and reducing the maintenance burden on the crew and the risk of leakage of harmful substances.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a methanol fuel supply system for a ship that includes a bunker tank for storing methanol, a service tank connected to the bunker tank, and a supply device connected to the service tank, and transfers methanol from the bunker tank to the service tank by a transfer pump, and is characterized in that the bunker tank is located above the supply device, and the bunker tank and the supply device are connected to each other.

[0014] Preferably, the ship is a dual-fuel ship that uses methanol and a fuel other than methanol.

[0015] Preferably, the ship is a methanol-fueled ship that uses only methanol as fuel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The methanol fuel supply system for a ship of the present invention includes a bunker tank for storing methanol, a service tank connected to the bunker tank, and a supply device connected to the service tank, and transfers methanol from the bunker tank to the service tank using a transfer pump. The bunker tank is located above the supply device, and the bunker tank and supply device are connected. Therefore, in the event of a transfer pump failure, methanol can be sent directly from the bunker tank to the supply device by gravity. Therefore, there is no need to configure multiple units to increase redundancy in case of a transfer pump failure.

[0017] Furthermore, the methanol fuel supply system for a ship of the present invention can be applied to a dual-fuel ship that uses methanol and a fuel other than methanol.

[0018] Furthermore, the methanol fuel supply system for a ship of the present invention can be applied to a methanol-fueled ship that uses only methanol as fuel.

[0019] Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a methanol fuel supply system capable of cost reduction and space saving by reducing transfer pumps, and reducing the maintenance burden on crew members and the risk of leakage of harmful substances.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] With reference to FIG. 1, a methanol fuel supply system for a ship according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Examples of the ship include, but are not limited to, cargo ships such as bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a methanol fuel supply system 100 for a ship according to the present embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the methanol fuel supply system 200 for a ship according to the conventional example shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] The methanol fuel supply system 100 is composed of a bunker tank 10, a service tank 20, a supply device 30, a valve train 40, a main engine 50, a return chamber 60, and a transfer pump 70.

[0024] The bunker tank 10 is a tank for storing methanol as fuel, and is arranged on or below the upper deck of the ship. The bunker tank 10 may be either for cargo or for fuel. In the case of cargo use, a part of the methanol carried as cargo is used as fuel.

[0025] The service tank 20 is connected to the bunker tank 10 and is installed for the purpose of, for example, reusing methanol that returns from the main engine 50 to the return chamber 60 and sending methanol to the supply device 30 by gravity.

[0026] The methanol stored in the bunker tank 10 is transferred to the service tank 20 by the transfer pump 70. Then, the methanol transferred to the service tank 20 is supplied from the supply device 30 connected to the service tank 20 to the main engine 50 via the valve train 40.

[0027] The transfer pump 70 is arranged at the same level as or below the bottom surface of the bunker tank 10. The service tank 20 is arranged so that it can be taken out above the supply device 30. The supply device 30 is arranged on the same deck as the valve train 40, and the valve train 40 is arranged above the intake port of the main engine 50.

[0028] Here, the methanol fuel supply system 100 according to the present embodiment is characterized in that the bunker tank 10 is arranged above the supply device 30 and the bunker tank 10 and the supply device 30 are connected. That is, as a route for sending the methanol in the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30, it has a route via the service tank 20 and a route for directly sending from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30. And it is possible to send ethanol from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30 by gravity.

[0029] In the event of a failure of the transfer pump 70, fuel supply can be continued by directly sending methanol from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30. Therefore, there is no need to increase redundancy in preparation for a failure of the transfer pump 70, and it can be configured with a single unit.

[0030] A methanol fuel supply system 100 for a ship according to this embodiment has a bunker tank 10 that stores methanol, a service tank 20 connected to the bunker tank 10, and a supply device 30 connected to the service tank 20, and is a methanol fuel supply system for a ship that transfers methanol from the bunker tank 10 to the service tank 20 using a transfer pump 70. The bunker tank 10 is located above the supply device 30 and is connected to the supply device 30. Therefore, in the event of a failure of the transfer pump 70, methanol can be sent directly from the bunker tank 10 to the supply device 30 by gravity. Therefore, there is no need to configure multiple pumps to increase redundancy in case of a failure of the transfer pump 70.

[0031] Furthermore, the methanol fuel supply system 100 can be applied to a dual-fuel ship that uses methanol and a fuel other than methanol, and can also be applied to a methanol-fueled ship that uses only methanol as fuel.

[0032] As described above, the methanol fuel supply system 100 according to this embodiment makes it possible to reduce costs and space by eliminating the need for transfer pumps, as well as reduce the maintenance burden on crew members and the risk of leakage of hazardous substances.

[0033] Although the methanol fuel supply system according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other modifications are possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 Bunker Tank 20 Service Tank 30 Feeding device 40 Valvetrain 50 Main engine 60 Return Chamber 70 Transfer pump 80 Transfer pump 90 Transfer pump 100 Methanol fuel supply system 200 Methanol Fuel Supply System

Claims

1. A methanol fuel supply system for a ship, comprising a bunker tank for storing methanol, a service tank connected to the bunker tank, and a supply device connected to the service tank, wherein methanol is transferred from the bunker tank to the service tank by a transfer pump, The bunker tank is arranged above the supply device, and a route passing through the service tank and a route directly sending from the bunker tank to the supply device are provided as routes for connecting the bunker tank and the supply device and sending the methanol in the bunker tank to the supply device. The methanol fuel supply system for a ship is characterized by this.

2. The methanol fuel supply system for a ship according to claim 1, wherein the ship is a dual-fuel ship using methanol and a fuel other than methanol.

3. The methanol fuel supply system for a ship according to claim 1, wherein the ship is a methanol fuel ship using only methanol as fuel.

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